Young golfer targets Walker Cup

The Staplecross-based Rye and Sedlescombe Golf Club member, 17, is hoping to play in the amateur equivalent of the Ryder Cup and then turn professional.

"I might be jumping in here," said father Glyn. "But I think his long term plan is to stay amateur for another three years. I'm hoping he makes the Walker Cup in 2007 and to turn pro after that."

Three years is a long time in the golfing world, though, so how does he plan to reach those exalted levels in 36 months' time?

One option could be the popular and successful American college system, which has honed the likes of Ryder Cup star Luke Donald.

"It's something that's been discussed," Glyn continued. "And he has had a couple of colleges that have offered him places. But he's not particularly academic and doesn't really want to go down that route at this stage '“ he would rather play on the amateur circuit in Europe.

"If he feels he's still competitive at that level he will stay here but if he then feels maybe he needs a break and to mix it up with something else he may well consider it at that point.

"His handicap (at +3.0 he is one of the 10 lowest handicappers in the country) now of course means he can play a whole season because he can't be balloted out of anything. He will get into the big European amateur events."

Ben, part of the victorious English Boys' teams at the Home Internationals Championships and the European Championships this year, capped a fantastic year by claiming his age group title and third overall around the Old Course at Burhill Golf Club in Surrey '“ the venue where he won the third and final south east regional qualifying competition, which earned him the one and only slot for the national finals.

He shot a "brilliant" best of the morning four-under-par 66, which included an eagle at the fourth, in round one and followed that up with a two-over-par 72 in "quite tough" second round conditions to win by a shot from Irish champion Aaron O'Callaghan (68, 71) and six from England colleague Matthew Baldwin.

Another offshoot from the latest sparkling performance is that the Mick Maplesden-sponsored player, along with the other age group winners, will spend a week to 10 days with Nick Faldo out in the United States in the early part of next year.

Glyn concluded: "He couldn't have asked to do any better really. His confidence is sky high and it's a case of bring them on really.

"He's worked very hard this year and he's been out there practicing almost from dawn until dusk and his hard work has been rewarded."